Until about now, I have been very confused whether buddhas, bodhisattavas, pure lands, hells, etc exist "really" or simply as metaphors. But I realized that there's no way I can figure out which is the true view. What I know, however, is that these things definitely exits IN SOME SENSE which my mind is incapable of understanding at the moment. And that's enough! Feels really like being a stupid bonpu, but I feel that's the right path!

Another thing, do you feel one should solely focus on Amida or if it would be a good idea to be aware of other buddhas and bodhisattvas as well? Let's not forget that the Contemplation Sutra recommends visualizing Avalokiteshvara (and the other bodhisattva which name I can't recall at the moment). Wouldn't it be a good idea to recite NAMO KANZEON BOSATSU from time to time? I think I used to focus so much on Amida that I basically denied the existence of countless of great beings, losing the ability to give respect to them! And that's not the right way.

Third thing, I think nembutsu practitioners should try to see how much more they are concerned about trivial matters or pleasures than about nembutsu. In Japanase one could say like like 常の念仏 tsune no nembutsu, constant nembutsu. We should really strive to be in as constant nembutsu as possible!

gyougan wrote:Until about now, I have been very confused whether buddhas, bodhisattavas, pure lands, hells, etc exist "really" or simply as metaphors. But I realized that there's no way I can figure out which is the true view. What I know, however, is that these things definitely exits IN SOME SENSE which my mind is incapable of understanding at the moment. And that's enough! Feels really like being a stupid bonpu, but I feel that's the right path!

You are correct - you have reached the limit of your conceptual understanding, and you have come to have faith that there is a "reality" outside of your dualistic limits. It's irrelevant whether you think Amitabha is "real" or a "symbol." These are equally conceptual designations, so just do the practice (as you are doing) and in time discover the true nature of Amitabha through experience.

gyougan wrote:Another thing, do you feel one should solely focus on Amida or if it would be a good idea to be aware of other buddhas and bodhisattvas as well? Let's not forget that the Contemplation Sutra recommends visualizing Avalokiteshvara (and the other bodhisattva which name I can't recall at the moment). Wouldn't it be a good idea to recite NAMO KANZEON BOSATSU from time to time? I think I used to focus so much on Amida that I basically denied the existence of countless of great beings, losing the ability to give respect to them! And that's not the right way.

Follow your inspiration. Consider that it is only your own dualistic limit which sees the Buddhas as different. They are all of exactly the same mind. If you focus solely on Amitabha, all Buddhas are contained within him. No one is going to feel left out. On the other hand, you can also make prayers to a different Buddha every moment from now until eternity, and never run out of Buddhas to receive blessings from.